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AirPlay on an iPad with iOS 4.2

Apple has just issued a statement advertising iOS 4.2, due in November. Apart from the fact it’ll be the first iOS version released simultaneously for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, we now know the official name of a new wireless printing capability.

It’s to be called AirPrint, Apple wrote, and will let you wirelessly beam text, photos, and graphics to the supported printers “without the need to install drivers or download software.”

The technology will automagically detect printers on your local network. Apple confirmed HP will be the first to support AirPrint in its upcoming ePrint printers, including the HP Photosmart, Officejet, Officejet Pro, and LaserJet Pro series. According to Apple’s marketing honcho Phil Schiller, wireless printing is magical:

AirPrint is Apple’s powerful new printing architecture that matches the simplicity of iOS – no set up, no configuration, no printer drivers, and no software to download.

iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch users can simply tap to print their documents or photos wirelessly to an HP ePrint printer or to a printer shared on a Mac or PC.

AirPrint supports a variety of printer models ranging from entry-level inkjet printers to office laser printers. Like multitasking, wireless printing will only work on iPad, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and iPod touch (second-gen or later). First-generation devices won’t be supported. The Cupertino firm advertised AirPlay as it seeded its developers with the first beta of iOS 4.2. In addition, the company has updated the iOS 4.2 software update page with new information related to AirPrint. iOS 4.2 is set to launch this November as a free update for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

If AirPrint sounds familiar, that’s because Apple debuted a similarly-named media sharing technology with iTunes 10. Called AirPlay – and also slated to debut on iDevices with iOS 4.2 – it lets you stream whatever video you’re watching or song you’re listening to on your iOS device to another one. Steve Jobs demoed this at the iPod event by streaming Disney’s “Up” from his iPad to an Apple TV by tapping the new AirPlay icon on iPad’s media player (the tablet was running a beta version of iOS 4.2).

In addition, Apple is working with the biggest names in consumer electronics on wireless speakers, AV receivers, home theater systems, and other networked audio products with built-in AirPlay support. This has led some commentators to observe AirPlay will power a huge multi-billion dollar ecosystem of accessories and home entertainment products that play nicely with iOS devices.

The first AirPlay-compatible hardware from third-parties is expected by the end of this year. For example, Denon’s $2,000 AVR-4311CI AV home cinema receiver already has AirPlay support in hardware, waiting to be activated via a firmware update this Fall.